By Lauren Means | Photo courtesy of RCA

Equal parts concert, VH1 storytellers, and therapy session, Cam did not disappoint. Launching her sixteen stop, headlining Road to Happiness tour, Cam took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium and made it her own. Complete with a homey stage setup and cozy lighting, this setting was perfect for an intimate show. Cam, stunning in her orange sequined dress and perfect curls, spoke to the audience about how she got her start in California and landed in Nashville. She talked about how music was a career change for her after getting her start in psychology. She spoke to the audience as if we were friends catching up after a brief time apart.

Cam performed her hits including “Mayday” and, fan favorite, “Diane”. She spoke freely about the struggles she encountered trying to break into music and also the inequalities faced by women in country music. This also includes the emphasis placed on how the women of country music are suppose to “look,” which seems to be the inspiration behind “Country Ain’t Never Been Pretty”.

Also a breath of fresh air is to hear her vocalize her support for the LGBT+ community. She does not shy away from this… in fact she embraces it. In addition to her outspokenness on equality during her show, she has also lent her talents to the Concert for Love and Acceptance put on by GLAAD and Ty Herndon. She even stated, “I think I may have more gay fans because of this song” before belting out “My Mistake”.

From laughs and fan favorites, Cam brought things down to a serious note when giving the background story on “Village”. She spoke of the brother of her best friend from fourth grade, Chris. She talked about him being the “cool older brother” and how they grew up together. How he told her how proud he was of her and the course she had taken in her life. Cam then spoke of how he passed away suddenly and how she was having to process the first death of someone close to her. She described how those people closest to you leave fingerprints all over your heart. With that, she left the house without a dry eye.

But it was not all tears and heartache. In addition to the stellar opening act, Lucie Silvas, we were surprised, in Nashville fashion, by cameos from Emily Saliers from Indigo Girls, Colbie Caillat, and Eric Church. Of course, the set would not be complete without a performance of her certified Platinum hit, “Burning House”.

When Cam was speaking of the pressures on “looks” to succeed in the industry she said, “I want the most interesting thing to be about me and not how I look.” With her ability to use her music and life experience to take her fans on an emotional journey through happiness, grief, outrage, and empowerment, there is no doubt this has been achieved.